The Vaccines: 7 Things You Need to Know

Here is a list of 7 things you should know about the Vaccines.

1.  The Vaccination Will Help Protect You From Getting the Virus

While there are a variety of vaccines out there, it is generally accepted that you should get whichever one is available to you. The Pfizer and Moderna require two shots weeks apart while the Johnson & Johnson is a one-shot only vaccine. All of the vaccines give you extremely high protection from the virus. They are much more protective than the flu shots available each season. They are especially effective in preventing you from getting sick enough to require hospitalization or having any severe symptoms.

2.  You Can Get The Vaccine Right Now

Although doses were in short supply in the beginning and each state was prioritizing who got vaccinated first, vaccines are now available for everyone age 16 and older. Healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities were the first in line for vaccinations since they have the most risk. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 will be the next to be eligible for the vaccine. This will give peace-of-mind to parents sending their children back to school.

3.  Side Effects of The Vaccine

All of the COVID vaccines were tested in both pre-clinical and clinical trials. Side effects are mainly mild and for most people, it is a sign your body is building up immunity to the virus. Remember a reaction to the vaccine is nothing compared to getting the virus and becoming very ill or hospitalized or ending up with long-term effects. It is important to drink a lot of water after your shot as that should help lessen some of the effects. And it is encouraged that you get at least 8 hours of sleep that evening. 

Here are some of the most common and tend to last an average of 1 to 2 days:

●      Discomfort at the injection site

●      Headache

●      Fatigue or Tiredness

●      Chills

●      Muscle or Joint Pain

●      Fever

●      Nausea

●      Swollen Lymph Nodes

While most people will have mild to moderate symptoms, a few may experience more severe symptoms. Let your medical professional know if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine or if you have other severe allergies.

4.  Is Cost A Factor?

No, the federal government has made the vaccine free for all Americans. This has resulted in a number of regulations that were passed to help Americans:

●  The ACA or Affordable Care Act requires the majority of insurers to fully cover all federally recommended preventative care. This includes the vaccine.

●  In addition, the CARES Act that was passed in 2020 requires insurers to cover preventive services up to 15 days after getting a recommendation from the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee.

If you do have medical insurance, they will take your insurance information and charge them only for administrative fees. These will be 100% covered by all insurance plans including Medicare.

5.  Should You Get The Vaccine if Pregnant or Breastfeeding?

Tests have been done including pregnant women and the vaccine is safe to take if you are pregnant. It is actually recommended that you do take it to make sure you do not get the virus and end up with complications during pregnancy.

6.  Where Can I Get The Vaccine?

You can go to Vaccine.gov to find out where in your area you can get the vaccine. Now that it is open for everyone, this will be the easiest way to check. You should also be able to go to any nearby pharmacy or even your local supermarket that has a pharmacy.

7.  Safety Is A Top Priority

There is a group called VaST, which stands for Vaccines Safety Technical Work Group. It was established to provide expert consultation on vaccine safety issues. Ten independent expert consultants make up this group along with members from other federal agencies and organizations. The group conducts independent, rapid reviews of available safety monitoring data for the U.S. vaccination program.

Conclusion

As we go through these trying times, we are constantly finding new ways to combat the virus with this vaccine being the most important. As always, stay up to date on the most current health information from the CDC to ensure that you are following all safety best practices.